Respiratory Flashcards
What are the 5 most common risk factors for developing asthma?
Exposure to allergens Living in a city Maternal smoking Family history Personal or FH of atopy
A seretide inhaler contains which drugs, should be taken how frequently?
Fluticasone and Salmeterol
Taken twice a day but can be reduced to one if well controlled
What three questions should be asked at an asthma review?
1- Have you had any difficulty sleeping because of your asthma symptoms (including cough)?
2- Have you had your usual asthma symptoms during the day? (SOB, cough, wheeze, chest tightness)
3- Has your asthma interfered with normal life at all, any problems at work or home?
Name 3 clinical features that make a diagnosis of asthma less likely?
Productive cough No wheeze/ repeated normal auscultation Dizziness/ lightheadedness Normal PEFR/ spirometry Voice disturbance
What is the carrier rate of the CF mutation? How is it inherited?
1 in 25
Autosomal Recessive
CF is caused by a mutation in which gene? What chromosome is it on?
CFTR gene
Chromosome 7
Name three possible presenting features of CF in a neonate?
FTT
Meconium ileus
Rectal prolapse
Name 5 possible features of CF in a child or young adult?
Cough/ wheeze
Recurrent infections/ bronchiectasis/ resp failure
Pancreatic insufficiency (diabetes, steatorrhoea)
Intestinal obstructions
Male infertility
Arthritis/ vasculitis
How should cystic fibrosis be diagnosed?
Sweat test <60 confirms (98% sensitive)
Genetic testing should also be done
What is the definition of ARDS? What are three common causes?
When non-cardiogenic pulmonary oedema leads to resp failure
because of damage to the alveoli
- Commonly due to sepsis, shock, trauma, pneumonia, gastric aspiration
Name 3 bedside tests used in respiratory medicine, when could they be indicated?
Peak flow - Asthma
What is the split between definitions of CAP and HAP?
HAP occurs > 48 hours after hospital admission
If <48hrs then still CAP
What is the commonest cause of CAP? (2)
Step pneumoniae (commonest)
H.influenzae
What is the commonest cause HAP?
Staph aureus
Name 5 symptoms which should be asked about in a pneumonia history?
Dyspnoea Cough Purluent sputum Fevers/ rigors Malaise Anorexia Haemoptysis Pleuritic pain
Name 5 signs of pneumonia?
Tachypnoea
Tachycardia
Cyanosis
Pyrexia
Confusion (often the only sign in elderly)
Hypotension
Consolidation signs (reduced expansion, dull percussion, crackles)
Name 3 tests you would perform for a patient presenting with signs of pneumonia?
O2 sats, blood pressure, pulse/ resp rate, temperature
If 2ndry care:
- FBC, U+E, LFT, CRP
- CXR
What scoring system is used for grading the severity of pneumonia, what are it’s parameters?
C- Confusion U- Urea >7 R - Resp rate >30 B- BP <90 65 - Age >65
0/1 - Oral antibiotics at home
2 - Hospital therapy
>3 - Severe (15-40% mortality) = consider ITU
What is first line antibiotic for mild CAP (CURB 0-1)?
PO Amoxicillin 500mg-1g TDS
5 day course
What is first line for a moderate CAP (Curb 2)
PO Amoxicillin 500mg-1g TDS
+ Clarithromycin 500mg BD
7-day course
Name three groups that should receive the pneumococcal vaccine?
> 65
Immunocompromised
Diabetes (non-diet controlled)
Chronic heart, liver, renal or lung conditions
A patient with a CAP is being discharged, what follow up is required?
Review at 6 weeks
+/- CXR
Name 3 complications of pneumonia?
Resp failure Hypotension AF Pleural effusion Empyema Lung abscess Sepsis
What is the most common site for lung cancers?
95% are bronchial
What are the two broad types of lung cancer plus the subtypes?
Small cell (15%)
Non-small cell (85%)
- Squamous (42%)
- Adenocarcinoma (39%)
- Large cell (8%)
- Carcinoid (7%)
What characterises small cell lung cancers?
Rapidly growing
Spread early and almost always inoperable
Poor prognosis but respond well to chemo
Which lung cancers most commonly release PTH?
Squamous cell carcinoma
Name three additional symptoms which may be seen in a PTH secreting tumour?
Features of high calcium
- Moans (abdo pain, N+V)
- Bones (bone pain)
- Stones (kidney)
- Thrones (on toilet as polyuria and polydipsia)
- Psychic groans
In a respiratory history name 5 red flags for lung cancer? (2ww)
Haemoptysis New hoarse voice Over 40 with: - Persistent chest infection - Clubbing - Supraclavicular lymphadenopathy Over 40 and smoker with: - Cough, SOB or chest pain - Weight loss or appetite loss
Where does lung cancer commonly metastasise to?
Brain and bone
Name 3 complications of lung cancer?
Recurrent laryngeal palsy Horners (pancoast tumour) SVC obstruction Metastasis and complications due to this Phrenic nerve palsy
How are lung tumours staged?
TNM
Tumour (Tx, Tis, T1-T4)
Nodes (N0,1,2,3)
Mets (M0,M1)
What is an aspergilloma, how is it seen on CXR and how is it treated?
Round ball of fungus in a chest cavity
Seen as ball in cavity like a halo on CXR
Treat if symptomatic - itraconazole,
What patient are at risk of aspergillosis?
Immunocompromised (Diabetes, long term broad spectrum AB’s etc).
(Diagnose with biopsy, treat with antifungals)
How do you grade COPD?
FEV1/FVC FEV1
< 0.7 > 80% Stage 1 - Mild
< 0.7 50-79% Stage 2 - Moderate
< 0.7 30-49% Stage 3 - Severe
< 0.7 < 30% Stage 4 - Very severe
What are the 4 features of acute severe asthma?
PEFR 33-50% best or predicted
Inability to complete full sentences
RR >25/min
Pulse >110 bpm
What are the diagnostic criteria for COPD?
FEV1/FVC < 70%
Clinical features
No other diagnosis more likely
Name three features which could help you distinguish between asthma and COPD?
Asthma diurinal variation (peak flow diary) - not in COPD
Asthma dry cough, COPD productive
Age of first presentation
What blood test should be performed for a young patient presenting with suspect COPD, no smoking hx?
ATA1
What are the first two lines of management of COPD?
1) Smoking + lifestyle
2) SABA or SAMA (salbuamol/ ipratropium) PRN
You have discussed smoking cessation with a COPD patient, and they are using a salbutamol inhaler PRN which is not controlling symptoms, what is line three of management?
Based of FEV1:
- If >50% (moderate) then add LABA or LAMA (Salmeterol or tiotropium)
- If <50% (severe) then give LABA and steroid as combined (seretide or symbicort)
A patient is using a salbutamol inhaler PRN and daily symbicort for their COPD, what is the next line of management?
All 4 drugs is 4th line
SABA (salbutamol)
LABA (in symbicort)
Steroid (in symbicort)
+ LAMA (tiotropium)
When starting a patient on a LAMA what must be done about their SAMA?
Stop SAMA
(Can’t take LAMA and SAMA)
- Although is fine to talke LABA and SABA
What are the indications for long term oxygen therapy for a patient with COPD?
Clinically stable and non-smoker with:
- paO2 <7.3kPa on two occasions at least 3 weeks apart
- paO2 and features of cor pulmonale
What is cor pulmonale, how does it present?
RV enlargement and dysfunction caused by resp disease
- Peripheral odema, neck vein distension, hepatomegaly etc
How is cor pulmonale diagnosed? What could be done to treat it?
On echo
Tx: Add frusemide